LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship, Workshop 1
2026-02-10 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Brought to you by WDVA
LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship, Workshop 1 of 3: The LGBTQ+ Veteran Experience and LGBTQ+ Military History
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Location: Virtual/Online
Instructor: Robin Lang, WDVA LGBTQ+ Veteran Program Manager
CE credits: Unavailable for this course at this time.
Course Description:
In this workshop, we look at how past policies impact LGBTQ+ veterans, shape their experiences, and affect their risk profile. We look at current executive orders that affect LGBTQ+ veterans as well as active-duty service members. As providers of benefits and services that affect veteran families in addition to the veteran, we touch on how those executive orders impact spouses, children, family, friends, and co-workers. The workshop closes with a look at LGBTQ+ veterans throughout history. Many veterans served under different circumstances, but regardless of when they served, we see the universal constant is discrimination and harassment and how resilience and determination to demand fair treatment and equal rights prevail.
Learning Objectives:

Understand the LGBTQ+ Veteran Experience through the lenses of cultural forces and current viewpoints.
Learn the impact of historical policies on veteran risk profiles and specific risk profile categories.
Recognize groups impacted, and effects caused by DoD and Executive policies, the veteran community, and the civilian community.
Learn the impact of current executive orders, rescinded orders, and State laws on those currently serving, veterans, family members, friends, and acquaintances.
Recognize individual contributions of LGBTQ+ veterans throughout history, and recognize commonalities of service across generations.

Register here: Attendee Registration – LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship, Workshop 1 of 3 (Squid-2)

LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship, Workshop 2 of 3: WDVA LGBTQ+ Veteran Program, Common Yet Harmful Experiences and Washington State Definition of Veteran
2026-02-11 13:00 - 15:00
Brought to you by WDVA
LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship, Workshop 2 of 3:
WDVA LGBTQ+ Veteran Program, Common Yet Harmful Experiences and Washington State Definition of Veteran
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Location: Virtual/Online
Instructor: Robin Lang, WDVA LGBTQ+ Veteran Program Manager
CE credits: Unavailable for this course at this time.
Course Description:
In this workshop, we learn about the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs LGBTQ+ Veterans Program, one of only two legislatively mandated state programs in the nation. We also learn about the recently expanded State of Washington definition of Veteran which allows more veterans to be eligible for state benefits. We will learn how this will impact veterans and address past inequalities.
Learning Objectives:

Identify resources available to service and benefit providers.
Identify resources available to LGBTQ+ veterans and families
Recognize the effects of commonplace but significant behaviors on LGBTQ+ folx.
Identify the impacts of race, sexual trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury diagnosis, PTSD, mental health disorders, sexual identity and gender identity on accessing benefits
Understand the impact of Washington State’s expanded definition of veteran
Identify resources for veterans impacted by errors in, or injustices caused by incorrect information in official DoD records
Recognize pathways available for those impacted by Article 125 convictions, unfavorable discharges and characterization of serve, errors, and injustices.

Register here: Attendee Registration – LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship, Workshop 2 of 3 (Squid-2)

LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship, Workshop 3 of 3: Inclusive Practices
2026-02-12 13:00 - 15:00
Brought to you by WDVA:
LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship, Workshop 3 of 3: Inclusive Practices
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Location: Virtual/Online
Instructor: Robin Lang, WDVA LGBTQ+ Veteran Program Manager
CE credits: Unavailable for this course at this time.
Course Description:
In this workshop, we cover LGBTQ+ cultural competencies and ways to be a better ally. Topics include sexual identities, gender identities, gender expression, emotional attraction, sexual attraction, intersectionality, dominant culture, pronouns, inclusive practices, privilege, and coming out.
Learning Objectives:
The overarching objective of this workshop is, that by learning about LGBTQ+ veteran experiences, available resources, and inclusive practices, it will help participants create a welcoming environment where LGBTQ+ veterans can receive their benefits or services without fear of mistreatment. Participants will:

Understand cultural competence and allyship.
Recognize symbols of allyship and their impact.
Identify common sexual identities and gender identities.
Understand gender binary and non-binary folx.
Identify and recognize common LGBTQ+ flags.
Understand the process of coming out.
Understand the impact of Intersectionality.
Understand gender pronouns and pronoun etiquette.
Identify and recognize the impact of Dominant Culture.
Differentiate between Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Sex assigned at birth, Physical attraction and Emotional attraction.
Understand common terms in the LGBTQ+ community, and the impact of evolving language.
Recognize privileges not experienced by many LGBTQ+ folx that dominant culture takes for granted.

Register Here: Attendee Registration – LGBTQ+ Veteran Allyship, Workshop 3 of 3 (Squid-1)

artREMEDY: Foundations of Art and Health
2026-02-26 10:00 - 11:00
Brought to you by: Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs
Berlina-Wallace Berube, MACP, MEd, LCPC, NCC, will share information on multiple treatment protocols and recovery supports—all with the goal of helping people find the most appropriate means to attaining and retaining recovery. That will be immediately followed by a fireside chat between Angela Caldwell, CSC-AD, MS, and David Awadalla, MSW, BSHP, SAMHSA experts working in the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Office of Recovery, respectively. The duo will discuss the evolution of the concept of recovery, as well as how centering individuals who have SUD during the treatment process can make a world of difference in their recovery efforts’ success.
artREMEDY: Foundations of Art and Health
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Location: Virtual/Online
Instructors: Nikki Visel and James Miles, Path with Art
CE credits: Unavailable for this course at this time.
artREMEDY Series:
artREMEDY is Path with Art’s training and consulting program that equips arts and culture organizations, healthcare providers, and academic institutions with practical, evidence-based, trauma-informed arts strategies.
Module 1: Foundations of Arts and Health
Introduces neuroarts: the study of how creative engagement affects the brain and body. This course explores how trauma influences health and behavior and build a foundation for applying the arts to foster connection, resilience, and well-being.
Learning Objectives:
Module 1 is designed for learners to gain a foundational understanding of:

art’s benefits for health and well-being
the field of Neuroarts
trauma and its effects on the brain and body
How art impacts trauma
a sample range of arts engagements
